MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
I need a new laptop but I don't have a clue. As with my old HP Pavillion laptop it will mainly be used for iTunes, storing photos, and internet browsing. And from next year it will be used for a 4 year Open University degree.
I don't really have a budget in mind as I don't know what I need to spend yet, but I want the best I can get for the least amount of money. Maybe £350?
Do I need to be brand snobbish or are they all much the same?
Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated. I'm happy to buy online rather than PC World etc if that's where the deals are.
Cheers
I bought surfer junior a HP Pavillion and the performace is very good, well pleased with it. £329 from PC World
:Edit: Actually he bought it with his own paper money 😳
I think that might be what it comes down to, a walk into PC World with a set budget. Cheers
walk into [s]PC World[/s] Currys with a set budget
And get whatever's reduced that fits your pocket
Same owners = same deals but Currys have >0 customer service skills.
Bought a 15" Toshiba from PC World after browsing their website (AKA currys.co.uk). Prices seemed similar to elsewhere.
Have since also bought a USB stick that had much reduced price online (again comparable to mymemory etc) so reserved to collect.
They're doing maintenance when I checked, the voucher offer on holding page might be worth the effort:
"To receive an exclusive discount with us when next shopping online, register by clicking the button below with your email address. We will send you a discount code within the next 7 days."
Have a look at ebuyer.com much cheaper than the high street and much better specs
And get whatever's reduced that fits your pocket
Go to Curry's/PC World web site, find the Refurbished section. See what you can find that fits your pocket.
Oh, lookee, I googled Currys refurbished and found [url= http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/refurbished-laptops/xx_3227_30329_xx_xx/xx-criteria.html ]this[/url] - might be worth registering if you want to save some more pennies.
FWIW I have a refurbished Compaq. Fine, it came in a brown box with a set of instructions that amounted to Plug It In And Switch It On. Comes with no disks, so you'll need a handful of blank DVDs to create the installation disks yourself.
We've got two of these in the house and they are fine, oldest one is about 18 mths in without problems and is used everyday for my wife's business.
My one is used lots by the kids and me and is still working well after a year. I take the view that with laptops the tech moves so quick it's not worth laying out £££ unless you really need something specific.
If you want to spend more
Cheers for the replies guys.
@JoeyJ A friend of mind recommended looking on ebuyer too but as I have said I don't know enough about laptops to know a bargain from a ripoff.
@joolsburger Thanks for the links but they don't work. Mrs Bucko has a Dell and loves it but it cost about £550 which is way more than I want to spend.
I really know nothing, for example how do I know if a 'Intel Core i3 2310M' is better than a 'Dual Core AMD E2-300M'. Does it even matter? Is it just a series of letters and numbers trying to confuse me?
I don't know why I'm getting so worked up about something so simple.
The most important consideration is screen size.
After that look at the kind processor and memory spec you'd get in a £450 laptop from PC world and punch that into ggogle shopping and see what comes up within budget with a decent seller rep.
I got a couple of laptops for relatives a few Christmases ago - The Samsung is the one that looks to be by far and away in the best condition after a load of abuse. My Samsung netbook has been ace too.
Is there anything wrong with your Pavillion that a fresh installation of windows won't cure?
I really know nothing, for example how do I know if a 'Intel Core i3 2310M' is better than a 'Dual Core AMD E2-300M'. Does it even matter? Is it just a series of letters and numbers trying to confuse me?
On Intel Core chips the i3/i5/i7 bit gives the speed - with i3 slowest but fine for a cheap laptop; and the first digit of the second number (2310) gives generation - 2 is fine on a cheap laptop. I don't know about AMDs (who are another manufacturer). Intel Pentiums are old, so I wouldn't get one.
You'll get Core i3 / 4GB RAM / 500GB HDD for under £350.
You'll get Core i3 / 4GB RAM / 500GB HDD for under £350
Cheers. After a lot of research I have come to this conclusion. Now it's just trying to find the nicest laptop for 350 with that spec
...it will mainly be used for iTunes, storing photos, and internet browsing
The most important consideration is screen size.
Balls. The most important thing is the processor, closely followed by internal memory for i-Tunes, photos and internet. Screen size is utterly unimportant.
I use PC Specialist - no-brand cases (their laptops aren't attractive), but you can outline your needs and pay less than high street shops.
The most important thing is the processor, closely followed by internal memory for i-Tunes, photos and internet.
Maybe you can explain to us why the processor is so important for looking at photos and browsing the internet. Does it take a lot of processing power to do that?
Also, try [url= http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk ]Laptops Direct[/url]. Used them a few times and they usually work out very competitive.
I'm typing this message from a two year old refurb I bought from Currys - works great 🙂 Remember that if you use Currys you can get cashback as well. Follow this link if you've never used them before: [url= http://www.topcashback.co.uk/ref/davehowlett ]TopCashback[/url]
Cheers
Dave
The most important thing with a laptop, is it nice to use?
Also I put battery life over processing power, don't need it.
I've had a small-footprint Acer for 3 years, still get 7-8 hours on a charge (great at home and when on business, not always worried about charge) - works well, and 'cos it was a bit dearer (£500 at the time), good quality keyboard.
Try and get a refurbished one if you can. Usually nothing wrong with them.
I bought the one I have now (Acer) with an Core i5 processor for £329.00. Should have £599.00! Been brilliant so far.
I got mine from Curry's, but PC World, Comet all do the same.
I just bought this [url= http://www.ebuyer.com/388471-zoostorm-laptop-7873-9038 ][url= http://www.ebuyer.com/388471-zoostorm-laptop-7873-9038 ][/url]laptop[/url] and I am more than happy with it
edit: but still cant post urls properly